Arsenal see Jack Wilshere as the key to them landing England star Declan Rice over the summer, it has been claimed.
Rice, who captains West Ham, has been linked with a move away from the club at the end of the season. Chelsea and Manchester United have also been mentioned in connection with a swoop, but one of the 24-year-old's former team-mates could yet hold the key.
Wilshere played with Rice at the London Stadium between 2018 and 2020, joining on a free transfer after his release by the Gunners. He is now back in north London as part of his boyhood club's coaching staff, having retired in 2022, and could have a role in convincing his former midfield partner to stay in the capital.
According to The Mail, the 'close relationship' Rice and Wilshere formed in east London could be key to a move. The latter only played 19 times for West Ham, but he was at the club as Rice developed into a regular under Manuel Pellegrini and David Moyes.
Rice was part of the West Ham squad which reached the semi-finals of last season's Europa League and secured back-to-back top seven finishes. However, David Moyes' side have slid this season and were in the bottom three before a weekend victory over Nottingham Forest.
They are also out of the FA Cup after a fifth round defeat at Man Utd on Wednesday. Said Benrahma put the Hammers in front, only for the hosts to strike three times in the final 15 minutes to make it through.
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"Yeah - one hundred per cent I want to play in the Champions League," Rice told reporters while on England duty during the World Cup. "For the last two or three years I've been saying that.
"I've been playing consistently well for my club and I feel like I really want to keep pushing. I see my friends here [with England at the World Cup in Qatar ], who are playing Champions League and competing for big trophies.
"You only get one career and at the end of it you want to look back at what you've won and the biggest games you've played in. I really want to do that."
Rice is under contract with West Ham until the summer of 2024, with the club holding an option to extend his deal by a further year. While he remains an important player for his current club, noise continues to grow around a summer departure if the price is right.
While Arsenal have the Wilshere key, Chelsea have the midfielder's good friend Mason Mount on their books. The Blues' current form could end up being an obstacle, though, with Graham Potter's side likely to miss out on Champions League qualification.
